5 Ways to Care for Motorcycle Brakes

When it comes to motorcycle riding safety, brakes top the list of things that shouldn’t be neglected. So if you’re riding and you notice squeaky, spongy or grinding brakes, you need to take action immediately.

With proper care, your motorcycle’s brakes don’t need to reach the point of deterioration where they’re no longer safe to use. Motorcycle brake maintenance is one of the easiest things you can stay on top of, and usually only requires a handful of tools and supplies. Here are 5 simple ways to take care of your motorcycle brakes. 

Top Off the Brake Fluid

Changing out the brake fluid every couple of years is a standard motorcycle brake maintenance recommendation, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check the fluid level periodically. 

Brake fluid can boil and evaporate with enough heat. You should periodically check the front and rear brake reservoir levels to make sure they have enough brake fluid in them, and top them off to the correct level as needed.   

When adding brake fluid to the reservoirs, make sure you cover up body panels on your bike, as the corrosive properties of brake fluid can damage the paintwork. Also, keep an eye out for brake fluid levels dropping rapidly, as this is a sign of leaks in the system. 

Bleed the Brakes Periodically

Air bubbles can get trapped inside the braking system, leading to a decline in braking power and performance, which is why bleeding the brakes should be done periodically. 

Bleeding the brakes to remove air in the brake system requires a handful of tools, and of course new brake fluid to replace the fluid drained out. The process basically requires opening up the bleeder screw on the caliper; attaching a hose to the valve on one end with a container on the other end; and pressing the brake lever to push out the old fluid, and any air and dirt trapped inside. 

As the brake fluid is bled out, the reservoir for the master cylinder needs to be topped off so that the system doesn’t run dry.

Signs that your motorcycle’s brakes need to be bled include spongy brakes, reduced stopping power and erratic braking. At minimum, the brakes should be bled at least every two years, regardless of whether they’re performing well or not. They can be bled slowly the “old school” way by doing it manually, or much faster automatically with the use of a brake system bleeder.

Inspect the Brake Pads Regularly

Out of all the braking system components, the brake pads take the most abuse from riding. Brake pads endure very high levels of friction and heat, and the harder and faster you ride, the more you should inspect and replace them. 

Brake pads typically have wear indicators you can check to see if replacement time is due (or worse, overdue). If you feel the brake pads are in need of swapping, don’t put it off. Failure to replace the brake pads when it’s time can cause them to tear into the brake rotor, and could end up damaging the whole assembly. 

While the duration of brake pads varies depending on how you ride, you should swap them out at least every 20,000 miles. However, if you ride a dirt bike often, you should swap them out even faster. The wear indicator on the pads will gradually disappear and the pads will lose thickness, so you should inspect them often. A digital caliper can help you measure the thickness on the pads.

Reasons for motorcycle brake pads wearing out fast include:

• General wear and tear
• High-speed riding
• Excess heat and friction
• Brake caliper failure
• Rusted or dirty caliper pistons

Calipers that have rust or debris on the pistons can lead to sticky braking due to the pistons not sliding correctly, which causes the brake pads to wear out due to uneven contact with the rotors.

Keep the Brake Rotors Clean

A noticeable drop in stopping power can also be caused by accumulated grime inside the braking assembly, including on a motorcycle’s brake rotors.

A simple hosing down of the brake rotors after every ride should keep them clean. However, if you’ve allowed dirt and grime to build up on the rotors, you may need to take it a step further and use a brake cleaner, clean rags and maybe even a nylon brush to scrub them clean.  

Inspect and Clean the Brake Calipers

Braking problems on a motorcycle can sometimes be caused by faulty or deteriorating brake calipers. Other issues with the calipers could be due to misalignment.

Brake calipers need to be aligned in order for the brake pads and rotors to work together properly. When inspecting brake calipers, check the mounting points for damage, stripped threads and corrosion. Rapidly deteriorating brake pads is another sign of faulty brake calipers.

To keep the calipers in good working order, you should clean and grease the pistons regularly. This helps prevent them from seizing up inside the caliper.

To inspect and clean brake calipers, simply unbolt each caliper and slide it off the rotor, then remove the brake pads and the pistons to clean them. Use brake cleaner to clean the pistons and seals, then lube them with brake fluid and reinstall them. 

Before cleaning and reinstalling the pistons and seals, inspect them to make sure they’re not damaged or worn, and replace them if necessary. The same goes for the calipers themselves. If you feel the calipers don’t need to be completely replaced but their interior components (pistons, seals) need some attention, check out the video below to see how to do a brake caliper rebuild.